Canal restoration ambassadors needed

We’ve teamed up with the Inland Waterways Association to find two canal enthusiasts who can assist the many canal restoration societies and groups across Britain who are toiling week-in week-out to bring forward canal restoration projects.

Since the Canal & River Trust was formed, our Trustees have made their support of restoration clear. The appointment of two restoration posts, through the initiative with the IWA, will now give more support to restoration groups up and down the country.

The two posts; a restoration coordinator and a graduate restoration coordinator, will be funded jointly by both organisations. Based in the Midlands at the our Fazeley office, the successful candidates will be available to work closely with canal restoration groups, helping where they can to develop plans and share the huge amount of knowledge and experience between each restoration group. They will also help to promote the potential of restored canals and new waterway links to new supporters and decision makers.

Amazing canal network

Simon Salem, marketing and fundraising director for the Trust said: “Thanks to volunteers in canal societies and trusts, we have an amazing canal network to pass on to future supporters. The prospect of the nation having more waterways is a really exciting one and we want to help where we can to bring more canals back to life. Working with the IWA, the new posts will either provide advice directly or, crucially, by helping to put one restoration group seeking advice in touch with another that has already overcome the challenge and has valuable experience to share.

“These posts are an important step as they will help to raise awareness of the importance of canal restoration and ensure that by working together we’ll have more success at bringing even more canals back to life.”

Sustainable waterway network

Vaughan Welch, IWA's Restoration Committee Chairman adds: “We are delighted to be working with the Trust to unlock the potential of waterway restoration. These projects have the potential to contribute to the development of a sustainable waterway network and boost local economies for the benefit of their communities."

The posts have arisen from a partnership between the Trust and IWA known as the ‘Growing a Sustainable Network’ group. The group was formed following the successful ‘All Together Better’ workshop in May which focused on how waterways groups and organisations must work together for the good of the waterways.